Machine for and method of folding sheets



- 1933- J. PERRY MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF FOLDING SHEETS Filed Feb. 19,1931 6 Sheets-Sheet l Summer WflL'a/wz/Ym.

Cttornegs D66. 5, PERRY MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF FOLDING SHEETS FiledFeb. 19, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 5, 1933. J. PERRY MACHINE FOR ANDMETHOD OF FOLDING SHEETS Filed Feb. 19, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor(htornegs 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. PERRY momma: FOR AND METHOD OF FOLDINGSHEETS Filed Feb.

Dec. 5, 1933.

IUQM. b NWN O N m m Dec. 5, 1933. J. PERRY MACHINE FOR AND METHODFOLDING SHEETS Filed Feb. 19, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jnvemor GttornegsWNW/m J. PERRY Dec. 5, 1933.

MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF FOLDING SHEETS Filed Feb. 19. 1931 6Sheets-Sheet 6 rlfrlLLiLLlnl lf Cm Cm 0% Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNETEDSTATES MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF FOLDING SHEETS John Perry, Pearl River,N. 'Y., assignor to Dexter Folder Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application February 19,1931. Serial No. 517,051

28 Claims.

This invention relates to folding machines, and while capable of generaluse, is more particularly adapted for use on folding machines whereinthe sheet receives a plurality of folds in the course of making it intoa multi-fold product.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved folding machinewhich eliminates wrinkling of the sheet that has sometimes resultedheretofore from the folding operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved. foldingmachine which facilitates the folding of heavy stock without wrinklingand without danger of choking up the fold ing devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved foldingmachine which enables the folding devices to operate on the proper lineof fold of the sheet, regardless of the size and thickness of saidsheet.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved foldingmachine which properly registers the fold line of the sheet with thefolding devices, after the fold line has been weakened at one side ofthe devices to facilitate folding of the sheet thereby.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding machine withimproved means for registering the fold line of the sheet with thefolding devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding machine withimproved means for perforating or weakening the sheet on the fold lineto facilitate folding of the sheet and eliminate wrinkling of the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding machine withimproved means which perforates or weakens the sheet on the fold linehas a shearing action that reduces the strain on said means and enablesthe same to operate accurately regardless of the size or thickness ofthe sheet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding machine withimproved sheet perforat- Z ing means and novel clamping means associatedtherewith and acting to clamp or hold the sheet against displacementwhile being perforated or weakened on its fold line.

Another object of this invention is to provide folding with improvedmeans acting to perforate or weaken the sheet on its fold line whilesaid line is at one side of the folding means and before the sheet is inposition to register the fold line with the folding devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide g machine with improvedsheet clampforating, stripping, and registering deociated andconstructed in a novel manner novel operating mechanism therefor,

These and other objects of this invention will appear as the followingdescription thereof proceeds, id in order to more clearly understandsaid in tion, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings whichillustrate one embodiment of the inventive idea, and wherein- Figs. 1and 1 are complementary side views of a folding machine equipped withsheet clamping, perforating, and registering mechanisms embodying thepresent invention;

Figskz, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic side views, partly in section, of thefolding mechine and said mechanisms, showing the positions occupied bythe latter when the sheet is fed thereto, perforated, and folded,respectively;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the perforatingmechanism and devices for operating the latter and the registering ofgauge mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the gauge mechanism andoperating devices therefor;

. Fig. '7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a clamp formingpart of said gauge mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the perforatingmechanism and part of the operating means therefor;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the perforatingdevices, illustrating the shear action obtained thereby on the sheet toperforate it;

Fig. 10 is a detail cross-sectional vi w,'partly in side elevation, ofthe perforating mechanism and portions of the sheet feeding and foldingmechanisms, the perforating mechanism being shown in its raised or upperposition; and

Fig. 11 is a detail cross-sectional view of the perforating mechanism,the same being shown in its lower position.

Re'erring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts throughout the several views, 5 indicates generally theframework of a folding machine, said framework including supporting legs6, 7, and side frame members 8 which are bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to the framework 5. Mounted on the supporting legs 7 of themachine is an electriomotor 9 supplied with current from any suitablesource and controlled through a suitable switch (not shown) to start andstop said motor. The armature shaft 10 of the motor 9, has fixed thereona pulley 11 around which passes a belt 12 that also passes around apulley 13 which is fixed on a shaft 14 extending transversely of themachine and journaled in suitable bearings on the framework thereof.

Fixed on the shaft 14 is a pinion 15 which meshes with-a large gear 16that is fixed on a shaft 17 extending transversely of the machine 51'ings on the frame members 8 thereof.

and journalled in suitable hearings on the machine framework. This shaft17 has fixed thereon cams (not shown) which operate arms 18 and 19 thatare pivoted in any suitable manner on the side frame members 8 andsupport drop rollers 20 and a folding blade 21, respectively. The sheet22 is fed between the drop rollers 22 and conveyor tapes 23 which carrysaid sheet forwardly until its leading edge engages a stop 24, whereuponthe folding blade 21 descends and folds the sheet between foldingrollers 25, 26. The conveyor tapes 23 pass around a driving roller 27and rollers 28, 29, 30, the roller 30 being journalled in arms 31pivoted in any suitable manner on the machine framework 5 and carrying'counterweights 32 for taking up the slack in said tapes. The roller 27is driven in the usual or any well known manner and said roller,together with the rollers 28 and 29 are mounted on suitable shaftsextending transversely of the machine and carried by the side framemembers 3 thereof. The front stop 24 may be of the usual or any wellknown construction, and is mounted on a member 33 extending transverselyof the machine and secured to the side frame members 8 thereof by anysuitable means for this purpose (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). l

The folding rollers 25, 26 are fixed on shafts 34 and 35, respectively,which extend transversely of the machine and are journalled in suitablebearings on the frame members 8 thereof. Fixed on the shaft 35 is apinion 36 which meshes with the large gear 16 that is fixed on the shaft17. The shaft 35 and roller 25 are thus driven from the shaft 17 throughthe gear 16 and described connections therefor with the motor 9. Fixedon the end of the shaft 35 back of the gear 36 is a pinion 37 (Fig. 2)which meshes with a pinion 38 that is fixed on the shaft 34 and servesto drive the latter and he roller 25. Passing around the roller 26 andbetween the latter and the roller 25 are tapes 35 which extend in asubstantially horizontal direction forwardly of the rollers 25, 26, andpass around idler rollers 40, 41 and 42. The idler rollers 40 and 41 aremounted on shafts extending transversely of the machine and mounted onthe side frame members 8 thereof in any suitable manner. The idlerroller 42 is carried by a shaft mounted in arms 43 pivoted in anysuitable manner on the machine frame work 5 and carrying counterweights44 for taking up the slack in the conveyor tapes 39.

The pinion 15 meshes with a pinion 45 that is fixed on a shaft 45'extending transversely of the machine and journalled on the side framemembers 8 thereof. The shaft 45 has fixed thereon a gear 46 which mesheswith a gear 47 that is journalled in any suitable manner on the machineframework. The gear 47 meshes with a pinion 48 that is fixed on a shaft49 at one end thereof. The shaft 49 extends transversely of the machineand is journalled in suitable bearings on the side frame members 8thereof.

'1 Fixed on the shaft 49 at the end thereof opposite that carrying thepinion 48 is a pinion 50 which meshes with a pinion 51 that is fixed ona shaft 52. This shaft 52 extends transversely of the machine and isjournalled in suitable bear- Fixed on the shafts 49 and 52 are rollers53 and 54, respectively, and said rollers, together with a folding blade55 constitute a second folding mecha nism receiving the sheet from thetapes 39 and 1 acting to impart a second fold in said sheet parallel tothe fold made therein by the first folding blade 21 and the rollers 25,26. The blade 55 is mounted on arms 56 operated in the usual or any weknown manner by cams and springs (not shown) to raise and lower saidblade.

Passing around the folding roller 54 and b tween the latter and thefolding roller 53 are conveyor tapes 57 which extend forwardly in ahorizontal direction from the rollers 53 and 54 and pass around idlerrollers 58 and 59. The idler'rollers 58, 59 are carried on shaftsadjustably supported in brackets 60 bolted or otherwise suitably securedto the framework 5 of the machine.

The above described folding mechanism operates to produce two paral elfolds in sheet 22, but it is obvious that addi onal parallel folds aswell right angle folds, could be made in the sheet through the provisionof additional folding devices constructed and operated substantially thesame as those above described. If, for example, it should be desired toimpart a third parallel fold to the sheet, the twice folded sheet wouldbe conveyed by the tapes 5'? to a sheet red to register the sheets withrespect shown) fo from the twice fold from the machine by raising thestop 61 out of th path of travel of the sheet on the tapes 5'7.

ance with the present invention, the r to; receiving one or more folds,is perl a line or fold by mechanism disposed at one therea r be ngadvanced by gauging and gripg mech sm to bring the perforated line orfold of the sheet in proper relation to said folder so hat the sheet maybe folded thereby. As

herein shown, the perforating mechanism is mounted between the firstand. second folding de ices, and. the gauge and grippers comprising saidgauging mechanism are mounted forwardly of the second folding mechanismwith the blades and folding rollers thereof interposed between theperforating mechanism and the gauging mech nism, The perforatingmechanism, in accord rice with the present invention. has a shear ng theperforations to be more action enab readily and accurately in the sheet,and the gnpers of the gauge mechanism act to clamp .e sheet during theperforating operation, to thereafter draw the sheet forwardly intoposition for folding by the following folding mechanism.

ge 48 r h fixed on stub aft 62 ioUJnall-ed in a uitable hear n n one ofthe side frame membe s 8. The ft 62 has fixed thereon niniou 62" which mwith an idler gear 53 that is journalled in side frame membe. idler gear63 meshes with 0, e' 64 on one end of a ft ext-en transver of themachine a. journalled in suitable bearings provided by clcets 65' thatare bolted otherwise suitably secured to the frame membars 8. The shaftis thus di' .n through. the

s with a lar e ear 62 which of the following folder, the sheet describedconnections therefor with the moto 9 and constitutes main cam shaft ofthe rating and gauge mechanisms, Fixed on the tively to each otherthrough a slight angle, and

arefixed on the shaft so that the high portions 66', 67' of said camssuccessively engage rollers 68 on forks 89 that straddle the shaft 65.This angular setting of the cams 66, 5'! enables a shearing action to beimparted to the perforating device through successive engagement of thecam portions 66', 87' with the rollers 68 of the forks 69 which operatesaid perforating device. Th forks 69 are mounted on corresponding endsof rods 70, the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected at '71with arms 72. The rods 70 are ch preferably made in two parts adjustablyconnected together by turn buckles '73 that enable said rods to belengthened or shortened, as desired. The 72 are fixed on stub shafts 74jcurnalle'd in suit able bearings brackets 75 that are bolted orotherwise suitably secured to the side frame members 8 at pointsrearwardly of the second folding mechanism. i he shafts '74 are thusrocked successively in the same direction by the described connectionstherefor with the cams 66, 67, said shafts being rocked in the oppositedirection by spring ressed rods 7", the lower 1 ends of which are guidedby suitable means on the machine framework 5, and upper ends of whichare pivotally connected at 7'7 with '78 that are fixed. on said shafts74.

Rigidly secured to or formed integrally with the arms '72 are arms 78provided longitudinally thereof with slots Th opposite wells of theslots 89 are grooved longitudinally thereof at to receive and tcylindrical members 82 fixed on or formed integrally with pins 83 thatext nd transversely of therncmbers 82 and project from opposite sides ofsaid members 82, as clearly shown in Fig. of the drawings. pins 88 arejournaled in suitable bearings formed in brackets 8% that are bolted orotherwise suitably secured at 85 on the two parts 8 86 of a perforatorhead idicated broadly at 87. The parts 86, 86 of the "oerforator 87 arepreferably formed or" iron and have recesses 88 along the length thereoffor the reception of perfora ing devices 89. These perforating devicesare secured in position in said recesses by machine screws so or othersui able fastening devices which p through. aligned openings in theperforator and the p rforating devices clamp the latter between the ts86, 86 of said perforator head.

In assembling t -e carried there the clamped between the the machinescrews vices, whereupon the oer'orator head and parts 1 rating devices89 are 85 of said head by or other fastening clens c3 are fitted in the8 th the cylindrical n U pi bearings of the brackets members 82 eachpositioned belw a pair of said brackets. The brackets 84 are then boltedto the parts 8-6, as of the perforate-r the latter is mounted on the'75) by sl the cylindrical elements 82 through the open ends of saidarms into engagement with the curved surfaces 81 on opposite walls ofthe slots 80. Thereafter, plates 91 are bolted or otherwise suitablysecured, as at 92, on the 79 to close the open ends thereof, strengthenthe same, prevent displacement of the perforator h ad from said armsduring the operation of the machine.

Yieldably mounted on the perf rator head 8 at opposite of the lowerserrated edges 5 of the perforating devices 89, are clamping plate. 94',the opposite ends of which have pins tend to yieldably urge the clamps94 and the head 8"] apart.

The perforator ends 96 and head 87 is provided on the thereof withoutwardly projecting vertically extending guides 1.01 which a eceit'edin guide slots 102 (Fig. 1) formed in the brackets '75 which are boltedor other suitably secured to the side frame members 8. The slots 102 inthe brackets '75 erve to guide the perforator head 87 vertically lead isreciprocated by the cams 66, 67, 'ie operated rods '70, and the springpressed rods 76.

Extending trans ersely of the machine below, in alignment with, theperforator head 87, a perforator plate that is indicated broadly at 104.This perforat r plate is made in two parts 105, 195, said parts being ofgeneral rectangular shape in cross-section, and the part 105 havingslots 106 formed therein to receive the perforating devices. 89 when thehead 87 is loweredto perforate a sheet fed by the tapes 39 between theperforator head and the perforator plate. The part 105 of the perforatorplate is soured in any suitable manner on brackets 107 otherwisesuitably secured on a cross member 107. The cross member 107 is securedby machine screws 109 or other suitable fastening devices to the sideframe members 8 of the The part 105 of the perforator plate is secui .dto the part 105 thereof, by machine screws or the like 110 '(Figs. 10and 11). When a sheet is fed by the tapes 39 between the perforator headand the perforator plate, said sheet is registered, by means hereinafterdescribed, wlth the perforating devices 89 of said whereupon the cams86, 6'7 operate to move the head 87 and the clamps 94 downwardly untilthe latter engage the sheet and clamp it on the perforator plate 104.The perforator head, however, continues to descend, and the cams 66, 6?,operating one after another, impart a shearing action of the perforatingdevice 89 to the sheet from one side thereof to the other. This shearinaction is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 9 of the drawings,wherein it will be note: that the perforating device at the extmeright-hand end of the head has just engaged is clamped against theperforator plate 104 by the clamping plate 9 1. The head 87 continues todescend. the springs 99 yielding to provide for perforating devices 89successively or progressively through and across the sheet and into theslots 1% of the perforator plate 104. The position of the parts when thesheet has been per-- forated, is shown in 11 and as soon as theperforating operation has been completed, the perforator and partscarried thereby including the clamps 9%, are raised by the springoperated rods 78 to the full line position shown in Fig. 10 of drawings.When the perforator head 87 rises, the clamps 94 are lowered slightlyenlarge-t.

the sheet, at which time said sheet A descent of the head and passage ofthe by the springs 99, thus insuring that the sheet will be strippedfrom the perforating devices 89. At this time, gauge mechanism which haspreviously registered the sheet with respect to the perforating devicesand clamped the sheet while being perforated, moves the sheet over thesecond folding devices to a point where the line of perforation isdisposed above the bite of the folding rollers 53, 54. This gauge mechanism and clamping means is preferably oper ated and constructed asfollows:

Fixed on the cam shaft 65, atone end thereof, is a cam 111 which, duringrotation of said cam shaft, engages a roller 112 that is journaled on anarm 113 having secured to or formed integrally therewith a fork 114 thatstraddles the cam shaft 65. The arm 113 is pivotally connected at 115with an arm 116 of a lever 117. This lever 117 is pivoted at 118 on oneof the side frame members 8 of the machine, said lever being provided onits upper end with an arcuate shaped rack 119. The lower end of thelever 117 is pivotally con -ected at 120 with one extremity of a springpressed rod 121, the opposite extremity of which is guided in anysuitable manner on the machi -e framework 5. The cam 111 and the springpressed rod 121 thus serve to rock the lever 117 on its pivot 118so thatlike motion is imparted to the rack 119. ,Meshing with the rack 119 is apinion 122 that is fixed on a shaft 123 at one end thereof. T is shaft123 extends transversely of the machine and is journaled in suitablebearings in frame members 8 thereof. Fixed on the shaft 123, in spacedrelation thereon, are pinions 124 which mesh with racks 125. When thearm 117 and the rack 113 are rocked by the described means for thispurpose, the pinion 122, the shaft 123, and the pinions 124 are rotatedfirst in one direction and then in the opposite direction, toreciprocate the racks 125 longitudinally of the machine. These racks 125are guided, during their reciprocating movement, by guide blocks 126 onwhich'said racks are slidably mounted. The guide blocks 125, in turn,are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the side frame members 8 ofthe machine, and provide bearings for the shaft 123 and a shaft 127(Fig. 6) extending in par 91 relation therewith. This shaft 127 hasfixed thereon a hand wheel 127 (Fig. 1) and worm pinions one of which isindicated at 128. These worm pinions serve to adjust a pair of gaugedevices, one at each side of the machine, and since these gauge devices,and their adjusting and operating mechanisms, are identical inconstruction, it is only necessary to describe one of the same.

The worm pinion 128 meshes with a worm pinion 129, the worm pinion 129being keyed on a shaft 130 and retained against endwise movement thereonby suitable means for this purpose. The shaft 130 is journalled in abearing 131 formed on a bracket 132 that bolted or otherwise suitablysecured at 133 on the underside of one of the racks 125. The bracket 132and the bearing 131 provided thereby, are spaced at proper distancesfrom corresponding guide block 126 so as not to interfee with thereciprocating movement of the racks 125 thereon. The shaft 130 isretained against endwise displacement in the bearing 131 by a collar 134which is secured to said shaft at opposite sides of said bearing. Eachshaft 130 provided with a threaded portion 135 that extends through andhas threaded engagement with the wall of a suitable opening formed in abracket.

136 that is bolted'or otherwise suitably secured at 137 to a front stop138. This front stop 138 extends transvesely of the machine and may beadjusted lon itudinally thereof for sheets of different sizes, byturning the shaft 127 to rotate the worm pinions 128, 129 and the shafts130. When the shafts 130 are thus rotated, their threaded portions 135act to move the front stop forwardly or rearwardly in accordance withthe direction of rotation of said shaft. It will appear, from theforegoing, that through the described operating connections for thefront stop 13 with the cam shaft 65, the said fr nt stop is rcciprocatedlongitudinally of the machine toward and away from the sheet perfora -ngmechanism above described. During reciprocating movement of the frontstop 138 each shaft 133 slides in its worm pinion 129 which, for thispurpose, is keyed at 139 in a slot 140 that extends longitudinally ofthe shaft 130. The sheet stop 138 moves toward and away from theperforating mechanism and also toward and away from the folding rollers53, 54 of the second folding device, the sheet perforating mechanismbeing disposed at one side of said rollers, and the sheet stop 138 andparts carried thereby being disposed at the opposite sides of saidrollers. Sec red to the sheet stop 138 in any suitable manner andprojecting from said sheet stop toward the folding rollers 53, 54, aresheet guides 141, 142 between which the sheet is fed by the tapes 39into engagement with said sheet stop.

The sheet stop 138 also has secured thereto in adjustably spacedrelation, two gauge and gripping mechanisms each compsing a stationarygripper jaw 143 and a movable gripper jaw 144. The gripper jaw 143projects from said sheet stop toward the sheet perforating mechanism andthe folding rollers 53, 54, the sheet being fed by the tapes 35 ontosaid jaw and between the sheet guides 141, 142 until the leading edge ofthe sheet engages the sheet stop 133. When the sheet stop 138 movesrearwardly and registers the sheet so that the second fold line thereofis directly below the perforating devices 89, the movable gripper jaw144 clamps the sheet to the stationary gripper jaw 143 and thus preventsdisplacement of the sheet while it is being perforated. Thereafter, thesheet stop 138 moves forwardly with the sheet clamped between the jaws143, 144 until the perforated second fold line of the sheet is broughtdirectly over the bite of the folding rollers 53, 54. The movablegripper jaws 144 are preferably operated and constructed as follows.

Fixed on the cam shaft 65 in spaced relation thereon, are earns 1.45that engage rollers 146. These rollers 146 are journalled on forks 147which straddle the cam shaft 65 and are secured on the forward ends ofshort rods 148. The rear ends of the rods 148 are pivotally connected at149 with horizontally extending arms These brackets i gagepins 156 thatare secured to or formed integrally with the inwardly extending arms 157of blocks 158. These blocks 158 have outwardly projecting guides 159that are slidably mounted in guide ways 160 (Fig. 1) formed in thebrackets 153 and extending in a direction transversely of the machine.Secured to the pins 156 are hooks 161 with which are engaged the innerends of springs 162. The other ends of the springs 162 are each securedto a pin 163 (Fig. 1) that, in turn, is secured to and projects upwardlyfrom the cover 184 of the adjacent guide way 160.

Blocks 158 are moved inwardly toward each other by the arms 154 and thedescribed connections therefor with the cams 145, said blocks beingmoved outwardly away from each other by the springs 162. The blocks 158are thus cam operated in one direction and spring operated in theopposite direction, the springs 162 maintaining the rollers 146 inengagement with cams 145 during rotation of the latter. The blocks 158,during their reciprocating movement inwardly and outwardly of themachine, remain insubstantial parallel relation with the side framemembers 8 thereof so that grooves 158' formed in the blocks 158 andextending longitudinally thereof at right angles to the guides 158, arelikewise retained in parallel relation. Each block 158 is utilized tooperate the jaw 144 of one of the pairs of gauging and grippingmechanisms above referred to, and for this purpose, a slide bar 166 isassociated with each jaw 144 and has a pin 165 which projects upwardlyinto the groove 158 of one of the blocks 158. The slide bar 166 ismounted in guides 167 and retained therein by plates 168 that are boltedor otherwise suitably secured, as at 169 to said guides. The guides 157in turn, are bolted or otherwise suitably secured, as at 170, to thesheet stop 138 and project forwardly therefrom, as clearly shown in Fig.6 ofv the drawings. The slide bar 166 is thus re ciprocated on the sheetstop 138 by the corresponding block 158 and the described connectionsfor said block with said slide bar. During reciprocating movement of thesheet stop 138 longitudinally of the machine, the pin 165 of the slidebar 166 slides in the groove 158 of the block 158, the constructionbeing such as to produce reciprocating movement of each block 158 andits slide bar 166 laterally of the machine, while at the same timeallowing each slide bar to move forwardly and rearwardly of the machinewith the sheet stop 138.

The sheet stop 138 is provided with hook shaped slots and upwardlyprojecting arms. EX- tending in each hook shaped slot 171 under eachupwardly projecting arm 172 is a pin 173 which is rigidly secured on anarm 174 of a bell crank 175. The bell crank 175 is journalled on a pin176 that is secured at 177 in a suitable opening formed in thecorresponding arm 172 of sheet stop 138. The arm 178 of bell crank 175has secured to or formed integrally therewith the movable gripper 144,said gripper projecting rearwardly from said arm in parallel relationwith the corresponding stationary gripper 143. Adjustably mounted on thepin 176 and secured thereto in any suitable manner, is an adjusting nut179 for regulating the tension of a coilspring 180 that is mounted onsaid pin between said adjusting nut and the hub of the bell crank 175.The inner end of the spring 180 is secured to the bell crank 175 and theouter end of said spring issecured to the adjusting nut 179. A similarbell crank and similar devices for operating it, are employed for theother movable gripper (not shown). When each slide bar 1661s movedinwardly of the machine by the corresponding block 158, the pin 173 ofthe corresponding bell crank 175 engaged by said slide bar, thusrotating the bell crank 175 on its pin 176 and moving the gripper 144carried by said bell crank away from the corresponding gripper 143. Thespring is thus tensioned, and when the slide bar 166 is moved outwardlyofthe machine, the gripper 144 is moved toward the gripper 143 by thespring 185.

The construction of the cams on the cam shaft 65 and the timing of thevarious parts operated by said cams, is such that when the sheet stop ismoved rearwardly of the machine, it stops the sheet where the line ofthe second fold of the sheet is disposed directly below the perforatingdevices 89, and at one side of the bite of the second folding rollers53, 54. The blocks 158 are then each operated to move the correspondingslide bar 166 outwardly and swing the gripper 144 thereon downwardly sothat the sheet is clamped between said gripper and the correspondingstationary gripper 143 with the leading edge of the sheet engaging thesheet stop, 138. The positions of the various parts after the sheet hasbeen perforated and positioned for folding by the second folding blade55, are indicated in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, wherein itwill be noted that the perforating devices and the second folding blade55 are raised above the sheet after the latter has been fed against the1.

sheet stop 138, perforated by the devices 89, and moved by the grippers143, 144 to position for folding by blade 55. During the perforatingoperation the clamps 94 and perforating head 87, are lowered by the headoperating mechanism so that the sheet is clamped on plate 104, and theperforating devices 89, with a shearing motion, such as beforedescribed, perforate the sheet on a line of the second fold to be madetherein by thesecond folding device. The positions of the various partswhen the sheet is being perforated, are shown in full lines in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, wherein it willbe noted that the perforating head islowered, the folding blade 55is raised, and the sheet is gripped by thegrippers 143, 144. After the sheet has been perforated, the sheet stop138 moves forwardly of the machine, the grippers 143, 144 being engagedwith the sheet and pulling it forwardly until the line of perforation inthe sheet is immediately over the bite of the folding rollers 53, 54. Atthis time the sheet stop 138 is at the limit of its forward movement,and each-slide bar 166 is moved inwardly by the corresponding block 158,to raise the gripper 144 carried by said bar and release the sheet fromsaid gripper and the corresponding gripper 143. The folding blade 55then descends and with the folding rollers 53, 54, acts to fold thesheet on the line of perforation made thereacross by the perforating'mechanism for further folding the sheet, as desired. The abovedescribed operations are repeated successively as the sheets are fed inlike manner to the described instrumentalities for folding, perforating,and again folding the sheet on the line of perforation, and further andmore detailed description of the operation of the machine is thereforeunnecessary in view of the foregoing.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it is to be expressly understood that saidinvention is not limited to said embodiment or otherwise than by thescope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a folding machine, sheet folding means, a sheet stop, rack andgear cans for moving the sheet stop toward and away from the sheetfolding means, sheet gripping devices carried by by and movable with thesheet stop and having relatively movable parts between which the sheetis fed when said stop is moved toward the sheet folding means, and meansfor moving said parts of the sheet gripping devices relatively, wherebythey are opened to receive the sheet and thereafter closed to move it inposition for folding by said folding means when the stop is moved awayfrom the same.

2. In a folding machine, sheet folding means, a sheet stop movabletoward and away from the same, means for moving a sheet into positionfor folding by said sheet folding means and comprising a sheet grippingmember fixed on the sheet stop and a sheet gripping member pivotedthereon, a slide on the sheet stop and adapted to swing the pivotedgripping member in one direction, and means for swinging said pivotedgripping member in the opposite direction.

3. In a folding machine, sheet folding means, a sheet stop movabletoward and away from the same, means for moving a sheet into positionfor folding by the sheet folding means and comprising a pair of sheetgripping members fixed and pivoted on the sheet stop respectively, meansmovable along the sheet stop to swing the pivoted sheet gripping memberin one direction, and spring means on the pivotal axis of said pivotedgripping member and adapted to swing it in the opposite direction.

4. In a folding machine, sheet folding means, a sheet stop movabletoward and away from the same, means for pulling a sheet into positionfor folding by the sheet folding means and comprising a pair of sheetgripping members fixed and pivoted on the sheet stop respectively, meansfor moving the pivoted sheet gripping member toward and away from theother sheet gripping member and including a gripper operating devicecarried by and slidable along the sheet stop, and means forreciprocating said gripper operating device as the sheet stop and sheetgripping members are moved toward and away from said sheet foldingmeans.

5. In a folding machine,,sheet folding means, a device movable towardand away from the same and having a slot and an arm thereabove, meansfor moving a sheet into position for folding by said sheet folding meansand including a gripper pivoted on said arm and having a pin projectingthrough said slot, and means for operating the gripper and including amember movable along said device to engage said pin and swing saidgripper.

6. -In a folding machine, sheet folding means, a member movable towardand away from the same, means for moving a sheet into position forfolding by said sheet folding means and including a gripper pivoted onand movable with the aforesaid member, means for operating the ripperand including an element slidably mounted on said member and carrying apin, and means for reciprocating said element and comprising a slidabledevice having an elongated groove receiving said pin and providing formovement of the element with said member.

7. In a folding machine, sheet folding means, gripper carrying meansmovable toward and away from the same, a pair of sheet grippers fixedand pivoted on the gripper carrying means respectively and adapted togrip and move a sheet into position for folding by the sheet foldingmeans, a gripper operating device slidably mounted on the grippercarrying means and adapted to engage and swing the pivoted gripperthereon, and reciprocating means adapted to operate said device andproviding for movement of the same with said gripper carrying means.

In a folding machine, sheet folding means, gripper carrying meansmovable toward and away from the same, a pair of grippers on the grippercarrying means and adapted to grip and move a sheet into position forfolding by said sheet folding means, gripper operating means carried bythe gripper carrying means and including an element slidable therealong,slidable means movable transversely of the direction of movement of thegripper carrying means and connected with said element to reciprocate itthereon, and means for reciprocating said slidable means.

9. In a folding machine, sheet folding means, gripper carrying meansmovable toward and away from the same, a pair of grippers on the grippercarrying means and adapted to grip and move a sheet into position forfolding by said sheet folding means, gripper operating means carried bythe gripper carrying means and including an element slidable therealong,a block slidable transv rsely of the direction of movement of thegripper carrying means and connected with said element to reciprocate itthereon, and means for reciprocating said block and comprising cam andspring operated rocking means connected therewith.

10. In a folding machine, sheet folding means, gripper carrying meansmovable toward and away from the same, a pair of grippers on the grippercarrying means and adapted to grip and move a sheet into position forfolding by said sheet folding means, gripper operating means carried bythe gripper carrying means and including an element slidable therealongand provided at one extremity with a pin, slidable means movabletransversely of the direction of movement of the gripper carrying meansand having a groove receiving said pin and extending transversely ofsaid element, and means for reciprocating said slidable means andcomprising a stub shaft, a cam operated arm fixed on the stub shaft torock it in one direction, and a spring operated arm l osely engaged withthe slidably mounted means and fixed on said shaft to rock it in theopposite direction.

11. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, means for temporarilystopping a sheet travelling toward the sheet folding mechanism, meansadapted to perforate the sheet with a shearing action thereon when saidsheet is stopped by said first named means, and means for moving theperforated sheet from the perforating means into position for folding bysaid sheet folding mechanism.

12. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, means for feeding asheet thereto, and sheet perforating means adapted to progressivelyperforate the sheet transversely of its direction of feed before saidsheet has reached a position for folding by said folding mechanism.

13. In a folding machine, sheet folding means, sheet perforating meanspast which a sheet is fed to said sheet folding means, and means foroperating said sheet perforating means adapted to produce a progressiveperforating action thereof on said sheet transversely of its directionof feed.

14. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, means havingreciprocating motion and adapted to progressively perforate a sheet fedthereto, and means for moving the sheet from said first named means tobring the progressively formed line of perforations of said sheet intoregister with said sheet folding mechanism.

15. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, means for perforatinga sheet fed thereto and folded thereby, a movable head carrying thesheet perforating means, and means for moving said head adapted toimpart shearing motion to the latter and said sheet perforating means.

16. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, a movable head, sheetperforating devices secured to said head at intervals along the same andadapted to perforate a sheet fed to said sheet folding mechanism, andhead operating mechanism adapted to reciprocate the head and theperforating devices and produce a shearing action of the latter on saidsheet when perforating the same.

17. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, a slidably mountedhead past which a sheet is fed to be folded by the sheet foldingmechanism, sheet perforating means carried by the head and adapted toperforate the sheet for folding by said sheet folding mechanism, rockingmeans, and means slidably and pivotal- 1y connecting the head with saidrocking means to reciprocate said sheet perforating means.

18. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, a slidably mountedhead past which a sheet is fed to the sheet folding mechanism, sheetperforating means carried by and movable in opposite directions with theslidably mounted head, bell cranks pivotally mounted adjacent theopposite ends of the h ad, cylindrical members pivotally mounted on thehead and slidably received in arms of said bell cranks, and means forrocking the bell cranks to reciprocate thehead and said sheetperforating means.

19. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, a slidably mountedhead made in two parts and past which a sheet is fed to the sheetfolding mechanism, sheet perforating means secured to the head betweenthe parts thereof and adapted to perforate the sheet before it is fed inposition for folding by said sheet folding mechanism, and means forreciprocating said head and said sheet perforating means.

20. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, a movable head pastwhich a sheet is fed to the sheet folding mechanism, sheet perforatingmeans carried by the movable head and adapted to perforate the sheetbefore it is fed in position for folding by said sheet foldingmechanism, cylindrical members ivotally mounted on the head, and headoperating means having opposed arcuate shaped grooves slidably receivingsaid cylindrical members.

21. In a folding machine, sheet folding mechanism, a movable head pastwhich a sheet is fed to the sheet folding mechanism, sheet perforatingmeans carried by the movable head and adapted to perforate the sheetbefore it is fed in position for folding by said sheet foldingmechanism, and means for operating the head and the sheet perforatingmeans and comprising movable members having opposed arcuate shapedgrooves and cylindrical members slidably received in said grooves andpivotally connected with said head, and means for retaining thecylindrical members in said grooves.

22. In apparatus of the character described, means to which material isfed and adapted to progressively perforate said material transversely ofits direction of f ed, and means for folding the material on the line ofperforations progressively made therein by said first named means.

23. In apparatus of the character described, means for feeding material,and perforating means and foldin means to which the material is fed bysaid first named means, said perforating means being adapted toprogressively perforate the material transversely of its direction offeed and said folding means beingadapted to fold said material on theline of perforation progressively formed therein.

24. In apparatus of the character described, means to which material isfed and adapted to progressively perforate said material transverselyofits direction of feed, means spaced from the perforating means andadapted to fold.

the material on the line of perforationsprogressively made therein bysaid first named means, and means for moving the material from saidperforating means to said folding means.

25. The method of folding material, which consists in feeding saidmaterial, progressively perforating said material transversely of itsdirection of feed, and folding the material on the line of perforationsprogressively formed there- 26. The method of folding material, whichconsists in feeding the material, progressively perforating saidmaterial transversely of its direction of feed, further feeding thematerial, and folding said material on the line of perforationsprogressively formed therein.

27. The method of folding material, which consists in feeding saidmaterial, temporarily stopping the same, progressively perforating theperforations progressively formed therein by said perforating means.

JOHN PERRY.

